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Best Detroit Reptile Pet Shops

Detroit may not seem like a haven for reptiles, with its cold winters and wet springs. Reptile enthusiasts love the challenge, creating a warm, dry habitat that is ideal for warm-weather, cold-blooded animals no matter the weather. Detroit’s reptile enthusiasts find no shortage of supplies and breeders, but these stand above the rest for their selection and service.

Anchor Bay carries a large selection of reptiles, including snakes, turtles, tortoises, lizards and its own captive-bred geckos. The store stocks a variety of supplies, housing and feeders. As a full-service pet store, Anchor Bay also offers supplies for those species and more. As a special service, Anchor Bay offers reptile boarding for vacationing reptile owners.

Great Lakes offers reptiles to tickle any fancy. The wide selection includes pythons, boas, corn, king and milk snakes, turtles and tortoises, and a host of lizard species including monitors, geckos, chameleons and basilisks. Great Lakes also stocks amphibians and arachnids. The store takes its responsibility for these exotic species seriously, and restricts the sale of large, dangerous or venomous animals. Housing, supplies and feeders are also available for a one-stop shopping experience.Related: Detroit Zoo Creates Fang Shui Habitat for Python

Lou’s Pet Shop has been serving the metro Detroit area since 1970, and in that time has built up a network of suppliers across the country. This allows Lou’s to bring in rare and exotic species that are difficult to find elsewhere. Weekly shipments provide a wide variety of available animals from the many snake, lizard and terrapin families. Lou’s also carries reptile supplies and cages for first-time owners and pros looking to build up their terrariums.

Though commonly considered just an aquarium shop, Oceans and Seas stocks a large variety of reptiles. Supplies are also available to house and care for snakes, lizards and turtles. The same customer service that makes Oceans and Seas a preferred aquarium store carries over to the reptile area. Staff members are also reptile enthusiasts, and can provide pre-sale care and feeding information to ensure satisfied customers and well-cared-for pets.

Specializing in reptiles and reptile supplies, Stingers hosts one of the area’s largest reptile displays. The owners and staff are hobbyists themselves, so customer service is based on first-hand experience as well as collective knowledge gained from years working with reptiles. The store carries a variety of species of snakes, turtles, tortoises, lizards and even alligators. Amphibians and arachnids are also available, as are housing, lighting and supplies. A wide range of feeders include larger rodents and small birds.

Jennifer Walker is a freelance writer living in Detroit. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in animal science from Michigan State University. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.